Lightweight solenoid valve



Sept. 25, 1951 RE. STONER 2 LIGHTWEIGHT SOLENOID VALVE Filed Feb. 12,1945 INVENTOR ATTORN E Patented Sept. 25, 1951 LIGHTWEIGHT SOLENOIDVALVE Francis. E. Stoner, Dayton, Ohio, assignor to United AircraftProducts, Inc Dayton, Ohio,

a corporation of Ohio Application February 12, 1945, Serial No. 577,4084 Claims. (01. i371s9) This invention relates to electrically actuatedvalve units, and particularly to a .solenoid valve having specialapplication to dilution systems. as. used in aircraft to modify theviscosity of the lubricating oil.

In such systems it is a practice to add to thev circulating lubricantdetermined quantities of gasoline under the control of a solenoid valve,the valve responding to the opening and closing of an electrical circuitto deny and permit flow oi. the diluting gasoline to the lubricantconducta ing lines. The construction of solenoid valves used for thispurpose has been the subject of varied and persistent development worklooking toward improvement in weight reduction, design simplicity,durability and sureness of operation.

It is thought that the valve of the present invention exhibits suchimprovement to a degree heretofore not attained in the art and it is anobject of the invention to produce a solenoid valve so characterized.

More particularly, it is an. object of, the invention. to eflect amarked decrease in the weightv of dilution system solenoid valves, toreducefthe. time and cost of their manufacture, to make their assemblyand disassembly more easy, and to obtain a mechanism reliable andtrouble-free in its operation.

Other objects and structural details. of the in. vention will appearfrom the following descripe tion when read in connection with theaccompanying drawings wherein:

Fig. l. is atop plan view of a solenoid valve constructed in accordancewith this. invention;

Fi 2 is a view in vertical longitudinal section, taken substantiallyalong the line 22 of Fig. 1.;

Fig. 3. is a bottom view in elevation of. the valve of Fig- 1;, and

Figs- 4. and are views in cross. section taken substantially along therespective lines 4--4- and 55 of Fig- 2.

Referring to the drawings, the illustrative embodiment of the inventionis seento comprise a cast body Ill formed with oppositely disposedbores. H. and I2 respectively terminating at an inner wall l3. The boresII and t2 are counter-- bored tov form respective openings l4 and l5adapted to receive pipe ends of the. system in which the unit isdisposed. Transversely of the bores H. and |2 is a bore [6 terminatingin a shelf I! which functions as a valve seat. A vertical port l8 opensthrough the approximate center of shelf or seat H to bore t2. An arcuateport I9 in the peripheral portion of seat ll opens into bore II. Therethus is established through bore I6 and by way of ports I8 and I9communication between the bores H and I 2. Accordingly, fluid enteringthe. unit, as. by way of opening l4, may pass through bore if and portl9 to bore 16 and then, flow out of the unit through port l8, bore 12and opening [5.

The wall of bore [6 is threaded to receive a bushing 20 which extendsupward outside the body Ill and is formed with a flange 2| overlying andcontacting the body. Sl'idably mounted Within the bushing 26 is aplunger 22 of steel or like material. The inner end of plunger 22 liesadjacent the shelf or seat I1. and is formed with an open ended ring 23in which is mounted seal 24, the projecting ends of ring 23 beingpressed into gripping engagement with the seal. The seal 24' is arrangedto engage the valve seat IT in a position surrounding central port l8whereby to discontinue communication between the ports Hi and I9 andthereby deny flow between the bores and I2.

The plunger 22 projects upward beyond the flange 2| of bushing 26 andhas a sliding fit, in a sleeve 25 on which is wound an electrical coil26. The lower end of sleeve 25 rests in a recess in bushing 2|l and;preferably is connected to the bushing by means. constituting a seal anda bond. The upper end of sleeve 25 receives a central stud 21 on a plate28 overlying the coil 26. The plate 28v has a diameter equal to that ofthe flange 2| of bushing 2| and the assembly comprising plate 28, flange2| and sleeve 2.5 constitutes the solenoid spool. The spool. is enclosedby a tubular casing 29. The lower end of casing 29 is bent into a cutout portion of the flange 2|, while the upper end of the casing isturned over upon the top of plate 28. Clamped between the casing 29 andplate 28 r The spring 36 is disposed in a longitudinal pasby cap 3| andthrough an opening 35 in the plate.

28.. to the coil 26..

. When. the coil 2.6 is energized, an electro-magnetic action is exertedonv the plunger 22, lifting it from its seat in borev l6 and permittingflow between the ports l8 and I9. To hold and return the plunger toitsseat on shelf l1 there is provided a compression spring 36 based on thestud 21 and pressing against the rear of the plunger.

sage 31 in the plunger 22, which passage, togather with a transversepassage 36 at the lower end thereof, establishes communication betweenthe rear of the plunger 22 and the bore l6, in ad-- vance or bushing 26.It will be observed that through the cooperation of plunger 22, stud 21and sleeve 25, a chamber 39 is formed in back of the plunger, and thatthe presence of air or trapped liquid therein would resist openingmovement of the plunger. According to the present construction, however,fluid which may flow to the chamber 39 while the plunger 22 is seatedmay escape therefrom by way of passages 31 and 38 to the bore l6 whenthe plunger rises from its seat. A counterbore 4| in the bushing 20 liesopposite the plunger passage 38.

It further will be noted that the passageway represented by port [9,counterbore 4|, and passages 38 and 31 connects the'inlet bore l4 andchamber 39. Therefore, the pressure of the incoming fluid will, in theclosed position of the valve, aid the spring 36 in maintaining the valveclosed.

As a seal against the escape of fluid around bushing 20 there isprovided in the outer surface of body In an annular recess 42 in whichis disposed a ring seal 43. The recess 42 is of such size as fully tocontain the seal 43 when it is compressed by mounting of the bushing 20in the body, the flange 2| being enabled to engage the body with a metalto metal contact.

What is claimed is:

l. A light weight valve and solenoid assembly, comprising a body formedwith oppositely disposed inlet and outlet passages; a bore in said bodytransversely of said passages and formed with a flat surfaced valve seatat its bottom; ports opening through said valve seat and communicatingsaid inlet and outlet passages; a bushing mounted in said bore andformed with a flange overlying and contacting said body; an annularrecess in said body beneath said flange; a ring seal in said recesstotally confined therein by said flange; a valve plunger reciprocablymounted in said bushing and adapted to rest on the valve seat in saidbore to discontinue communication between said inlet and outletpassages; an electrical coil based on said flange and surrounding saidplunger, said coil acting when energized to withdraw said plunger fromits seat in said bore; a plate overlying the top of said coil; a tubularcasing surrounding said coil and turned over at its one end to overliesaid plate and turned over at its other end so as to be clamped betweenthe bushing flange and the valve body; a cap mounted on said plate andsecured thereto by the adjacent turned over end of said casing; and anelectrical conduit entering the assembly by way of said cap and passedthrough said plate to said coil.

2. A light weight valve and solenoid assembly, comprising a body formedwith oppositely disposed inlet and outlet passages, a bore in said bodytransversely of said passages, and formed with a flat surfaced valveseat at its bottom, a centrally positioned port in said valve seatopening into one of said oppositely disposed passages, a port in theperipheral area of said valve seat opening into the other of saidoppositely disposed passages, said ports cooperating to establishthrough said bore communication between said passages, a plungerextending into said bore and having a projecting portion outside saidbody, an annular ring seal on the inner end of said plunger and adaptedto engage said valve seat between said central port and saidperipherally positioned port whereby to discontinue communicationbetween said passages, a bushing mounted in said bore and formed with anexternal flange overlying and. contacting the outer surface of said bodyand with an internal flange providing a bearing for said plunger, asolenoid coil surrounding said plunger and acting when energized towithdraw said plunger and valve from said valve seat, said coil havingone end engaging. the flange of said bushing, a plate overlying the topof said coil, a tubular casing surrounding said coil, the ends of saidcasing being respectively turned over said plate and the flange on saidbushing, an electrical lead passed through said plate and connected tosaid coil, and a passage through said plunger communicating with thebore in said body below the internal flange on said bushing.

3. A light weight valve and solenoid assembly, comprising a body havingoppositely disposed inlet and outlet passages, a bore in said bodytransversely of said passages and formed with a flat surfaced valve seatat its bottom; means opening through said valve seat communicating saidinlet and outlet passages; a bushing mounted in said bore and formedwith a flange overlying and contacting the outer surface of said body; asolenoid plunger slidably mounted in said bushing; an annular seal onthe lower end of said plunger arranged to contact the valve seat in thebottom of said bore in position to prevent communication between saidinlet and outlet passages; a solenoid coil surrounding said plunger andacting when energized to withdraw said plunger and valve from said valveseat,said coil having one end engaging the flange of said bushing; aplate engaging the other end of said coil, and defining in conjunctionwith said plunger a closed chamber within said coil; a central verticalbore in said plunger opening through the upper end thereof andterminating short of the lower end thereof; radial ports in said plungercommunicating with said vertical bore at the lower end thereof; and acoil spring based on said plate and received in the bore in said plungerurging said plunger in a direction to engage said valve thereon withsaid valve seat.

4. A light weight valve and solenoid assembly, comprising a body, formedwith oppositely disposed inlet and outlet passages; a bore in said bodytransversely of said passages; ports opening through the bottom of saidbore and communicating said inlet and outlet passages, one of said portsbeing in the center of said bore and presenting a valve seat; a bushingmounted in said bore and formed with a flange overlying and contactingsaid body; an annular recess in said body beneath said flange; a ringseal in said recess totally confined therein by said flange; a valveplunger reciprocably mounted in said bushing and adapted to engage saidvalve seat to discontinue communication between said inlet and outletpassages; an electrical coil based on said flange and surrounding saidplungensaid coil acting when energized to withdraw said plunger from itsseat in said bore; a plate overlying the top of said coil; a tubularcasing surrounding said coil and turned over at its one end to overliesaid plate and turned over at its other end so as to be clamped betweenthe bushing flange and the valve body; a cap mounted on said plate andsecured thereto by the adjacent turned over end of said casing; and anelectrical conduit entering the assembly by way of said cap and passedthrough said plate to said coil.

FRANCIS E. STONER.

(References on following page) 5 REFERENCES crr'En Number The followingreferences are of record in the 2,291,599 file of this patent: UNITEDSTATES PATENTS 213991843 Number Name Date 2,402,950

1,629,815 Aikman May 24, 1927 2,096;763 Ray Oct. 26, 1937 2,114,961Gille Apr. 19, 193a Number 2,181,423 Gille Nov. 28, 1939 10 485,3842,290,177 Grant July 21, 1942 Name Date Ray Aug. 4, 1942 Lane July 18,1944 Culver Dec. 26, 1944 Adams May 7, 1946 Culver July 2, 1946 FOREIGNPATENTS Country Date France Oct. 12, 1917

